The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-04
DEMOCRACY IN RUSSIA.
A Peculiar institution Among the
Peasantry.

There is an institution peculiar to Russia,
presenting extraordinary anomalies, in prin-
ciple utterly at variance with autocratic gov
eminent, within which, it has for centuries
afforded to the peasantry local administra-
ton of purely democratic, almost commu-
nistlc character, writes A. +. Heard in Har-
per's Magazine for March. This is the
Mir" formed of two bodies, the village
(seto) Mir and the town (uolost Mir. The
word signifies the universe, and in fanciful
combination with another Russian word.
mar, OF different etymology, meaning peace,
1T may be understood as the peaceful salts
faction of universal wants.
In reality it amply responds to the simple
necessities of Russian peasant life, which it
regulates and directs to-day as it has done
for centuries past 1t is essentially national
and Russian, of very ancient origin, although,
strange to say, it has become known only
within the last fifty years; it existed prior to
the establishment of serfdom, has survived
it, and still exhibits the vitality of perennial
youth.
1t is based ON the common ownership of
the land; the little slip around his isba (hut)
belongs to the peasant, but in the wide fields
beyond and around. not included in the
seigneurial domains, there are no individual
rights; they are the property Of the village
commune, of the Mir. This body is respon-
sible to the government for the land tax, and
the peasants of the village are collectively
responsible to it. It's members are not all
the peasants, but all the heads of peasant
households in the village; they participate
equally In its deliberations, and in the case
OF absence or death, the wife or mother, who
represents the household, has an equal voice
with the men. Az certain epochs it distrib-
utes the communal land among the house,
holds. and assigns to each its share of the
tax; these epochs vary in different localities,
ranging from one to thirty years, averaging
about ten, with growing tendency to
the peasant in the care of the portion al
lotted to him. The village elder (stdrosta,)
who presides, the tax collectors and officers
are chosen by the peasants for three years;
the authority of the Mir has frequently to
be invoked to enforce their acceptance
The elder simply executes the DEGREES
OF the assembly, and by force of public
opinion these DEGREES once pronounced
are implicitly obeyed without demur. Meet
ings are held at irregular periods, whenever
convenient, frequently after church service,
on the village green; there Is no form, no
order, no regular debate; the purpose of the
c0ny0catlon Is known to all; the tumultu
GUS crowd discuss it in knots among them
selves. loudly and yoeiferously, until it is
decided by reclamation, or, If the delibera-
ton Is prolonged. the elder calls out what
appears to be the popular opinion, and APP
peals to the multitude: "0rthodox, have We
thus decided" Whatever may be the de-
cision Of the majority, it is at once submitted
to by all, or, IN the language of an American
caucus, is made unanimous and is never
questioned. The principal topics of interest
are the redistribution Of the land and the re-
partition of the tax which are made as i'm
partially as possible, with due regard TO the
conditions OF each household, its wants and
its capability for work. As owner of the
land and In the common interest, the Mir
directs its culture and its harvesting, regu-
lates the crops, the supply of water for irri-
CATION, and performs all the duties of pro-
prietor, while the peasants are its servants,
but each one reaps from the fields allotted to
him according to his diligence and industry.
., AS the Mir is responsible for the tax, and
the peasants are collectively bound to it, it
grants or withholds at pleasure, leave or abb
senee from the village, and may punish or
eApei such members as are burden. Mere
residence does not confer membership; this
requires the consent of the Mir and the pur-
cnase Oh q right In the communal land; and
q peasant may not freely relinquish his men,
Dershlp; this also needs the consent OF the
Air, upon conditions to be agreed upon 1t
regulates and controls all internal matters OF
Inc community by customs and laws I'M
written, put confirmed and sanctiiied by the
The town dir controls the Mrs of the SOW
eral villages which, adjacent to one another
form township. Ii elects the iudges, who
must be peasants and members Of a Mir.
They have jurisdiction over all civil suits in
which peasants are parties, and administer